Paper bag dispenser



R. D. PETERS 3,028,046

PAPER BAG DISPENSER Filed Decv 7, 1959 April 3, 1962 sa ss/ s l, 2/ /20 INVENTOR.

ROBERT D, PETERS 14;. 16mm: I8/ F g, 3 2 8 arent 3,028,646 Fatented Apr. 3, 1962 tice 3,028,046 PAPER BAG DISPENSER Robert D. Peters, Rte. 1, Box 763, Lakeside, Calif. Filed Dec. 7, 1959, Ser. No. 857,706 1 Claim. (Cl. 221-34) The present invention relates generally to dispensing of articles and more particularly to a paper bag dispenser.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a paper bag dispenser constructed to hold a lplurality of collapsed paper bags of different sizes in correspondingly sized compartments, the bags being readily accessible and removable one at a time.

Another object of this invention is to provide a paper bag dispenser in which the bags are held in place by spring biased followers, the followers and springs being easily removable for spring replacement without dismantling the dispenser structure.

Another object of this invention is to provide a paper bag dispenser which is adapted for fabrication from many different materials, so that the choice of material can be according to the dictates of availability and price considerations, the exact sizes and proportions being matters easily determined to suit particular conditions and needs.

Another object of this invention is to provide a paper bag dispenser which is practicable and inexpensive to manufacture.

Finally, it is an object to provide a paper bag dispenser of the aforementioned character which is simple and convenient to use and which will give generally efficient and durable service.

With these and other objects definitely in view, this invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of elements and portions, as will be hereinafter fully described in the specification, particularly pointed out in the claim, and illustrated in the drawing which forms a material part of this disclosure, and in which:

FIGURE l is a front elevation View of the dispenser;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of FIGURE 1.

Similar characters of reference indicate similar or identical elements and portions throughout the specification and throughout the views of the drawing.

The dispenser comprises a generally rectangular casing having a back panel 12, end panels 14, a top panel 16 and a bottom panel 18, and may be made as a pressed or molded unit, or fabricated from sheet material, the precise method of construction not bieng critical. The front of the casing 10 is covered by a front panel 20 having a peripheral attachment flange 22 which fits over and is secured to the front edge portion of said casing. With certain materials, such as plastics, the flange 22 may be omitted and the front panel bonded directly to the front edge of the casing.

The casing 1) is divided into a plurality of compartments by upright dividing walls 24, the configuration illustrated having six compartments of various widths corresponding to the widths of standard sized paper bags. Certain of the compartments are also fitted with bottom plates 26 fixed between the dividing walls 24, to make each compartment fit a specific length of paper bag. As illustrated, compartments 30 and 32 are the full height of the casing 10 to hold large sized bags, while compartments 34, 36, 3S and 40 are gradually decreased in size for smaller sizes of bags. It should be understood, however, that any number and arrangement of sizes of compartments may be incorporated in a single casing, according to requirements.

The front panel has a plurality of rectangular openings 50, 52, 54, 56, 58 and 60 corresponding to and aligned with the compartments 30 to 40, respectively, said openings being slightly smaller than the corresponding compartments to leave an inwardly extending rim flange 62 completely around each compartment. Inside each compartment is a flat follower plate 64, slightly smaller than the dimensions of the compartment so as to slide freely from front to rear while extending across the compartment. The follower plates 64 are biased forwardly by compression springs 66 having flat attachment plates 68 fixed to each end thereof by soldering, or the like. The springs are held in place by small screws 70 to the back panel 12 and the follower plates 64, one, two, or more springs being used as necessary to provide suflicient bias. As illustrated, the springs 66 are tapered so that they will compress into a minimum of space, although other types of springs may be used.

The dispenser can be mounted on a counter, shelf, or the like, or secured on a wall. Each compartment is loaded with collapsed paper bags of appropriate size, as indicated at 72 in FIGURE 3, the bags being stacked with their folded closed end portions 74 outwardly. The follower plate 64 presses the bags 72 against the back of the rim flange 62, holding them rmly in place, with the closed end portion 74 of the front bag exposed in the opening for easy access. It should be noted that the bags 72 can be loaded with the folded ends up or down without affecting the operation of the dispenser. Since the bags are retained around their entire edges by the rim flanges 62, they are not easily displaced, but can be quickly removed -individually by grasping the exposed folded closed end portion 74. Due to the effective retention of the bags, only one can be removed at a time, avoiding the wastage which often occurs when bags are stored in open bins, as in the produce departments of many food markets.

The springs 66 are easily replaced, when weakened or broken by prolonged use, merely by removing the screws 74). The follower plates 64 can be turned sideways in the compartments or removed through the openings, to provide complete access. When the dispenser is mounted on a wall, the screws 70 holding the springs to the back panel 12 may be inserted from inside the casing i0 to facilitate their removal.

The dispenser may be made to integrate with conventional counter and display structures in size and finish, the specific construction being dependent on the material used. The unit can be installed within easy reach and be readily visible, rather than partially concealed below a counter as are many present bag storage bins.

The operation of this invention will be clearly comprehended from a consideration of the foregoing description of the mechanical details thereof, taken in connection with the drawing and the above recited objects. It will be obvious that all said objects are amply achieved by this invention.

It is understood that minor variation from the form of the invention disclosed herein may be made without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that the specification and drawing are to be considered as merely illustrative rather than limiting.

I claim:

A dispenser for stacked paper bags having folded closed end portions, comprising: a unitary substantially closed casing having a top, a bottom, a front panel, a back panel, and ends; a plurality of spaced, parallel dividing walls therein positioned parallel to said ends and defining a plurality of compartments of various widths; certain of said compartments having bottom plates fixed between said dividing walls parallel to said top and bottom for producing compartments of predetersa mined heights, each compartment being thus dimensioned to hold a quantity of stacked paper bags of a specific size; said front panel having a plurality of openings corre spending, position-wise, to said compartments; each of said openings being slightly smailer than the size of the paper bag to be held in the specific compartment and defining a continuous rim flange surrounding the opening and extending inwardly of the opening a distance much less than the Ycorresponding dimension of folded closed end portions of said bags; a follower plate shiftably mounted in each of said compartments; a plurality of springs having attachment plates fixed to the ends thereof; and means for detachably securing said attachi ment plates to said back panel; said springs being compressed between said follower plates and said attachment plates and biasing the follower plates toward said openings and retaining said paper bags between the follower plates and said rim flanges.

References 'Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 739,190 Kreidler Sept. 15, 1903 1,293,291 Albig Feb. 4, 1919 1,581,051v Carlson et al. Apr. 20, 1926 new' 

